Bill would keep non-school officials from closing schools

By: Susan Tebben - June 5, 2020 1:05 pm

School buses for Sandusky City Schools. Photo from Sandusky City Schools website.

A new Ohio Senate bill to be introduced next week would prevent anyone outside of school administration from closing schools.

State Sen. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said Senate Bill 320 will “allow the people who know their students and parents best to make decisions that are best for their local school districts.”

Parents giving students home instruction would be able to decide if a facility offered adequate protection from COVID-19, under the bill.

Huffman said any plan covering all schools would “fail to be fair and effective.”

The bill has 16 co-sponsors, all Republican.

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Susan Tebben

Susan Tebben is an award-winning journalist with a decade of experience covering Ohio news, including courts and crime, Appalachian social issues, government, education, diversity and culture. She has worked for The Newark Advocate, The Glasgow (KY) Daily Times, The Athens Messenger, and WOUB Public Media. She has also had work featured on National Public Radio.